Legal Battle Continues Between City Of Ventura, Water District

Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 2:43pm

The City of Ventura has filed a new lawsuit in what’s been an ongoing battle over water rates charged by the United Water Conservation District.

The city challenged United rate’s structure, contending municipal customers were paying an unfair share of costs compared to agricultural customers. The City claimed in its first two lawsuits that United didn’t follow the proper process to justify the rate structure. A judge agreed with the city, so United did some studies to try to support the rate structure. City officials say that prompted them to file the third suit, because they contend the rate structure is still unfair.

In the past, United officials have cited a state code dating back to the 1960′s which allows water district to charge agriculture users at a lower rate than residential, or business customers.